Feature

This content was provided by Shinobu Doi, and is maintained in a database by the ISS Program Science Office.

Brief Summary

The JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) provides a novel, safe, small satellite launching capability to the International Space Station (ISS). The J-SSOD is a unique satellite launcher, handled by the Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS), which provides containment and deployment mechanisms for several individual small satellites. The J-SSOD platform, including the satellite install cases holding the small satellites, is transferred by crewmembers into the vacuum of space through the JEM airlock for JEMRMS retrieval, positioning and deployment.

J-SSOD facility provides a reliable, safe and economically viable means of deploying research small satellites into Earth orbit. Atmospheric and surface monitoring, radio communications testing, and small object and sample return to the ground for testing and analysis are all potential candidates for this facility.

The J-SSOD facility provides a unique satellite install case to the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Remote Manipulator System (RMS) for deploying small, CubeSat, satellites from the ISS.

J-SSOD holds up to 3 small one-unit (1U ? 10 x 10 x 10 cm) small CubeSats per satellite install case, 6 in total, though other sizes up to 55 x 55 x 35 cm size may also be used..

Each pre-packed satellite install case is loaded by crewmembers onto the Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) within the JEM habitable volume. The MPEP platform is then attached to the JEM Slide Table inside the JEM airlock for transfer to the JEMRMS and space environment.

The JEMRMS grapples and maneuvers the MPEP and J-SSOD to a predefined deployment orientation and then jettisons the small CubeSat satellites.

Small satellites deployed using the J-SSOD as an ISS facility could perform a multitude of scientific investigations relating to Earth, including atmospheric, radio communications and earth observations to name but a few.

The J-SSOD facility is the first of its kind to deploy small satellites from an orbiting space station, the ISS. J-SSOD provides a reliable, safe and economically viable means of deploying small research satellites into Earth?s atmosphere or return small objects and samples to the ground for testing and analysis. This facility supports research from multiple users and future CubeSat investigators

The Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) is a platform that acts as an interface between operations inside and outside the ISS, and the J-SSOD mechanism is installed on this platform. Two rectangular, spring loaded satellite cases accommodate up to 3 small 1U (10 cubic cm) cube satellites each. Brackets on the satellite install case base provide attachment points for the MPEP which attaches to the JEM Slide Table for passage through the JEM airlock. Individually launched, pre-packed satellite install cases are installed in J-SSOD by crewmembers, attached to the Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) and passed through the JEM airlock for retrieval by the JEMRS. A JEMRMS grapple fixture supports capture, orientation and deployment operations, including communications and power interfaces.

The Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) and other ISS cameras may be used to support video monitoring of satellite deployment as necessary. Deployment of small satellites requires a specific JEMRMS orientation (i.e., safe deployment cone) in order to avoid ISS contact.

Expedition 33 saw the first use of the JSSOD facility with the successful deployment of 5 small CubeSat investigations: RAIKO, FITSAT-1, WE WISH, NanoRacks CubeSat-1/F-1 and TechEdSat.